Former No. 2 overall pick offered as solution to Lions' edge rusher void

Not that it needed to be proven, but two games without Aidan Hutchinson has fortified the notion the Detroit Lions need to make a trade for an edge rusher. It's truly a matter of time, and matters of cost to acquire in a trade/who is deemed the best fit.

It feels like ages ago that the New Orleans Saints started 2-0 which what looked like an unstoppable offense. They are now 2-6 after losing to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, and they should be some level of a trade deadline seller.

The history Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have with the Saints may inform the move that is made for an edge rusher, in terms of current Saints that were there when they were or former Saints who are now also elsewhere. hat

Former Defensive Rookie of the Year proposed as solution to Lions' edge rusher void

On his NFL Trade Block Big Board heading into Week 8, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report proposed Saints defensive end Chase Young as a trade match for the Lions.

"The Lions are a logical landing spot for any available edge-rushers, and they should be interested if Young is available."

As part of the site's look at each team's needs before Week 9, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report proposed the Lions trading for Young while recasting Knox's points from around a week ago.

"Trading pass-rusher Chase Young, who is on a one-year, $13 million deal, would provide no 2025 cap relief [for the Saints]. However, it would net the Saints some valuable draft capital," B/R's Kristopher Knox wrote. "Young has tallied 1.5 sacks and 13 quarterback pressures in seven games this season."

Counting Sunday's game now, Young has two sacks and 14 pressures this season (according to Pro Football Reference). In a show of the disparity there can be in defining quarterback pressures, Pro Football Focus has credited Young with 30 pressures in eight games. But PFF also has him graded as their 82nd-best edge defender this season (out of 114 qualifiers), with a fairly dismal pass rushing grade (59.2)

Young has a $2.7 million base salary for this year, so he would not be expensive to take on and the Saints should be open to moving him. But there are occasional effort questions with the former Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the structure of his contract (per-game roster bonus of $470,000) protected the Saints after he had neck surgery.

Among potentially available Saints' defensive lineman, Young might come in at No. 3 on the list based on fit and appeal. But the Lions' search for an edge rusher should be leaving no stones unturned, so some level of interest in the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft (perhaps already explored and moved on from) wouldn't come as a shock.